About the Center

Central to Villanova’s cutting-edge approach to legal education is the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship, which serves as the hub for the School’s cross-disciplinary programming, groundbreaking courseworkand real-world learning opportunities. Under the auspices of the Center, new learning modules— focused on the intersection of business and law—were added to the School’s core curriculum for JD candidates. These courses are designed to immerse all Villanova students in the practical application of their law studies and better prepare them for today’s business-centric legal practice.

Vital hands-on experience is also offered through the Center’s Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship, whichprovides legal services to start-up ventures and budding entrepreneurs and serves as a resource for the Law School, the University, and the Delaware Valley region. Working with full-time faculty, clinic students become a primary counselor to emerging businesses—advising on a diverse array of challenges common to launching, operating and growing sustainable ventures. While contributing to the Greater Philadelphia entrepreneurial ecosystem, students are empowering local innovators to turn their dreams into realities.

The Center serves as a hub for academic and practical discussions regarding business and the law. It hosts dozens of speakers from practice and the business world each year, along with a number of professors from business schools and law schools who share their cutting-edge scholarship with our faculty and students. Finally, the Center serves as the Law School’s point of contact with the University’s ICE Institute and all of the entrepreneurship-related programming it provides for the Villanova community.

Andrew Lund

Director, The John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship

Andrew Lund is the Director of the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship and Professor of Law.

As the Center Director, Lund provides comprehensive leadership and collaborates with faculty on related curriculum and programs.

Lund joins Villanova Law with more than 10 years of experience as a legal practitioner, full-time faculty member and law school administrator. Most recently, he was the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and Professor of Law at Pace Law School, where he also founded the school’s business law concentration.Lund's research interests focus on public companies’ corporate governance mechanisms and executive compensation. His work has appeared in the Harvard Business Law Review, the Notre Dame Law Review, the Florida Law Review and numerous other journals.

Curricular Innovations

Villanova’s WHERE LAW MEETS BUSINESS philosophy comes to life with two required and credit-bearing courses that broaden students' business knowledge and prepares them for today’s fast-paced marketplace. We worked with industry experts and leading law firms to design innovative courses that directly align with the demands of professional practice:

Joseph Del Raso Financial Literacy for Lawyers (1L)

Crafted and presented in consultation with business and financial leaders, this module introduces law students to critical business and finance concepts. Beyond learning to read a financial statement, this course allows students to exercise creative problem solving, strategic thinking and professional judgment, and learn to work effectively with colleagues and senior attorneys. Students put these new concepts into practice as they work through a real-life legal scenario—the sale and purchase of a business—to identify and better understand the business and financial issues faced by practicing lawyers.

Business Aspects of Law (2L)

As the legal industry continues to evolve, understanding the business of practicing law has never been more important. The structure, personnel and economics of a law firm, and how to properly manage legal projects are all topics that today’s legal graduates must understand to be successful. This week-long course offers real-world lessons in the business of practicing law.

Designed in consultation with legal management leaders with coursework tailored to what graduates need to know, this dynamic module covers topics such as legal management structures, ranging from the sole practitioner to large international firms; law firm personnel and their roles; revenue generation and overhead; and resource management for legal projects.

The Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship provides students with valuable hands-on learning experiences in entrepreneurial law. Working with full-time faculty, students become primary counselors to emerging businesses —advising on business-related, transactional matters such as corporate formation, intellectual property, contracts and more. Students’ clinical work also serves as a vital community resource, empowering local innovators to turn their dreams into realities.

Staff

Melanie McMenamin

Director of the Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship

Melanie McMenamin joined Villanova University School of Law as Director of the Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship in June 2014. McMenamin was previously the Clinical Supervisor and lecturer of the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic at University of Pennsylvania Law School. Prior to her role at Penn, she was an associate in the Real Estate Finance Group at Dechert, LLP. She received her BS/BA cum laude from Georgetown University, and her JD cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and was a member of the Journal of Law and Social Change as well as a Legal Writing Instructor.

News and Events

Entrepreneurs and Lawyers: Creating Win-Win Relationships

Presented by The John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship and the Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Institute

Entrepreneurs and Lawyers: Creating Win-Win Relationships was an opportunity for lawyers and entrepreneurs to discuss how they can optimize their working relationships. The event explored topics including selecting a lawyer or law firm, deciding to work with a start-up company, best practices for entrepreneurs to reduce legal expenses and best practices for lawyers to attract and keep entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurs and lawyers shared expert advice in a question and answer format, providing perspective and actionable insights.

The event took place on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 4-8 p.m. This program was approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Board for 2 CLE credits.

November 18, 2015

Sock Hop Study Break

The John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship welcomed students to the Sock Hop Study Break, which featured an introduction to the Center and a celebration of social entrepreneurship. The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 3-5 p.m. in the Scarpa Center space. To celebrate our focus on social entrepreneurship, attendees were asked to donate a pair of new adult socks which the Center collected on behalf of The Joy of Sox, an organization founded by Tom Costello Jr. '69 COE that distributes socks to the homeless.

John and Jana Scarpa

September 8, 2015:

Scarpa Center Dedication Event Featuring Joe Plumeri

Villanova University School of Law hosted a special dedication event for the John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship on September 8 . The event’s featured speaker was Joe Plumeri, Vice Chairman of the First Data Board of Directors and former Chairman/CEO of Willis Group Holdings. Plumeri—a renowned business leader and philanthropist—is known for his ability to transform the way companies think and operate. His inspirational speeches have moved thousands and his 2011 Commencement Address at the College of William and Mary was named among “The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever” by NPR. Based on his book, The Power of Being Yourself, Plumeri’s lecture offered guidance on how to stay positive, motivate yourself and others and achieve success in life work. Read more

Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania speaks at the 2015 Life Sciences Law, Regulation and Business Conference

June 11, 2015:

Life Sciences Law, Regulation and Business Conference

The John F. Scarpa Center for Law and Entrepreneurship presented the second annual conference on Current Topics in Life Sciences Law, Regulation and Business on Thursday, June 11. The featured speaker, Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, discussed “Healthcare Fraud Enforcement & Business Compliance.” Read more

November 20, 2014:

Venture Capital: Key Negotiating Points

Villanova University School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted a lecture on venture capital—the second event of its Financing Growth Business Lecture Series—on Thursday, Nov. 20. Three panelists from local venture capital firm, Safeguard Scientifics, discussed the negotiation dynamics between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs that drive the terms and structure of VC financings of growing businesses. As one of the pioneering venture firms, Safeguard made early investments in companies like Comcast, QVC and Novell, and has completed more than 100 M&A transactions and more than 20 initial public offerings (IPOs). Read more

October 23, 2014:

Crowdfunding Lecture

Villanova University School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted a lecture on Crowdfunding on October 23. Crowdfunding— Internet-based financing that involves ordinary investors— is changing the way entrepreneurs raise capital for their growing businesses. In this interactive session, legal expert Yoel Kranz discussed the various ways to raise money that are permissible under current rules, and what may be coming soon. Read more

June 12, 2014:

Conference on Current Topics in Life Sciences Law, Regulation and Business Development

Villanova University School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, in partnership with Thomson Reuters, presented a special one-day forum on Current Topics in Life Sciences Law, Regulation and Business Development on June 12 at the Law School. Helmed by a faculty of professional thought leaders, this conference created a formal venue for legal, compliance and business development professionals to discuss important topics affecting the Life Sciences sector in 2014 and beyond. Intended to showcase the vibrant Life Sciences sector of the greater Philadelphia/New Jersey region, this industry-focused summit offered networking opportunities for business and legal professionals to engage, communicate and connect. This program has been approved for 3.5 CLE credits. Read more

March 25, 2014:

Becoming the Entrepreneur of Your Own Career

Villanova University School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted a lecture entitled “Becoming the Entrepreneur of Your Own Career.” The event will be held on Thursday, March 25 in Law School Room 102. In this interactive session, longtime entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr. Richard Caruso, discussed his 35 years of experience in the entrepreneurial field. Read more

February 13, 2014:

Venture Capital – The Catholic Healthcare Way

Villanova University School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted a lecture entitled “How the Nation’s Largest Catholic Healthcare System Invests in Innovation” on Thursday, February 13. Seasoned venture capitalist, Matt Hermann, discussed his experiences in a field where medical innovation intersects with the venture capital market and the Catholic healing mission. Read more

January 21, 2014:

Villanova University School of Law Announces Major Curricular Innovations

Villanova University School of Law announced significant changes for the law school in 2014 that transformed the curriculum to provide students with both the academic and practical skills needed to succeed in today’s highly competitive market. Read more

June 12, 2013:

Professor Michael Risch Quoted in Wall Street Journal Blog

Villanova University School of Law Professor Michael Risch was quoted in a Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog post about President Barack Obama’s plan to take executive action against so-called “patent trolls.” An intellectual property expert, Professor Risch has written extensively on the topic with his article, “Patent Troll Myths,” cited often. Read more

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 988-6738